Former Telikom CEO Acquitted of Drug Smuggling

Former Telikom PNG Chief Executive Officer, Charles Litau, who was detained and charged for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs into Darwin, Australia 10 months ago, has been acquitted of charges by a Northern Territory Supreme Court.

This was revealed in an online article of the Northern Territory News yesterday.

The article said Mr Litau, a former Telecom director, was charged with knowingly or recklessly importing methamphetamine, commonly known as ice, from Hong Kong, hidden in thick soles of women’s boots.

The jury returned the unanimous decision after deliberating for three and a half hours.

Barrister John Lawrence SC said his client, who unwittingly brought 750g of ice into the country hidden in thick-soled boots in his luggage, was groomed via text by a man named “Greg Greening” for about two months, after he answered a bogus job ad to manage cocoa imports and exports.

The former Telikom CEO was released and granted a bridging visa until his flight home to PNG.

PNG TV /ONE PNG